Chapter 40

Qiao An hadn't completely lost consciousness. Though her head was heavy, she was acutely aware of Gu Ting's actions.
She felt touched, this silly kid really did have her back.
She just hadn't expected that even at an engagement party, something like being locked in a dark room would happen.
And thinking of that disgusting Liu Cheng and what might come next, Qiao An felt she could already guess.
Her eyes were tightly shut, unable to open. Her limbs felt weak and foreign, beyond her control. Resistance was impossible, it was a done deal. Qiao An sighed inwardly, resigned, telling herself to just treat it as being bitten by a dog.
But
Damn it, it's just too fucking disgusting!
Qiao An thought fiercely that someday, she would pay this back!
A faint click sounded as the door opened.
Then, as if a light was switched on.
Sure enough, Liu Cheng's voice rang out, "Tsk tsk, well done."
"Get out."
Another sound of the door opening followed.
Even without imagining it, Qiao An could guess the general situation.
She had already calmed down, though she still felt a bit nauseous.
But Liu Cheng didn't feel the same way. He stared at the girl lying on the dark carpet, her skin pale and luminous. Her dress wasn't particularly long, revealing a pair of perfect legs right in front of him.
Aside from her face, this was the part Liu Cheng admired the most.
He had a thing for legs, and the moment he first saw Qiao An, he felt she was exactly his type. He had initially planned to test the waters, but she had been foolishly infatuated with that idiot, so he decided to take a more direct approach.
After all, this wasn't the first time he had done something like this.
Once he recorded the video, he was certain Qiao An would have no choice but to comply. Even if she resisted, it wouldn't matter, he would have leverage over her.
As for Gu Ting, he was just a fool anyway. Letting him go might cause trouble later, so it was better to keep him around.
Liu Cheng bent down, a look of disgust on his face, and tried to pull Gu Ting away, who was clinging tightly to Qiao An. But to his surprise, the first tug didn't budge him.
Wasn't he supposed to be unconscious? Was the drug not working as well as it used to?
In the past, the women he had drugged would lie there like dead fish, not waking up until the next day.
He hesitated for a moment, but seeing that Gu Ting still showed no reaction, he regained his composure and moved closer, using both hands to pry him away.
This time, it worked.
But just as he was about to drag Gu Ting away with force, the young man, who had been lying with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, revealing a pair of blood-red eyes filled with terrifying killing intent. There was no trace of weakness in him as he lunged forward, his punches landing with the force of someone who had just eaten a can of spinach!
"Ah!" Liu Cheng cried out in pain, trying to fight back but easily overpowered by Gu Ting, who continued to pummel him. "Ah! You son of a ah!"
He couldn't even form a coherent curse word.
Gu Ting was like a ferocious beast unleashed from its seal, relentlessly beating Liu Cheng.
Qiao An, who had already braced herself mentally, suddenly heard the commotion and felt even dizzier. What was going on?
Had Gu Ting already broken the seal?
Didn't he need to meet the female lead and receive her guidance first?
The sudden turn of events made Qiao An want to laugh, but she couldn't muster even a smile, she couldn't even manage a single expression.
The noise in the room alerted the two men in black guarding outside. Hearing the disturbance, they immediately opened the door and saw Liu Cheng being brutally beaten.
But before they could step in to help, Gu Ting flipped Liu Cheng over, pinning him down while gripping his throat. His blood-red eyes glared at them, wordlessly conveying the threat: if they took another step forward, he would kill him.
Although the two burly men had committed plenty of misdeeds, they had never crossed the line into murder. They hesitated, frozen in place.
One of the bearded men lifted Qiao An from the ground and said in a low voice, "Aren't you afraid for her?"
Their question was met with Liu Cheng's agonized scream: "Ahhh!" The moment they lifted Qiao An, Gu Ting's pupils contracted sharply, and his grip tightened abruptly. Liu Cheng felt a suffocating pain in his neck, his eyes rolled back, and he was unable to utter a word.
The two men clearly sensed something was wrong. Gu Ting showed no fear of them, and it seemed that if they dared to harm Qiao An, he would not hesitate to kill Liu Cheng.
The two burly men hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances.
Qiao An, being held up, felt dizzy but could still perceive the commotion around her. She couldn't help but silently applaud Gu Ting in her heart.
Naturally optimistic, she hadn't even had time to feel fear before the situation turned around. Now, all she wanted was to watch the drama unfold, but unfortunately, the effects of the drug hadn't worn off yet.
The two sides were at a stalemate. Gu Ting's impatience was palpable. Liu Cheng, choked to the point of speechlessness, couldn't give any orders, and without his command, the two men didn't dare act on their own. Unwilling to back down, Gu Ting gritted his teeth and tightened his grip even more.
Liu Cheng, his face flushed red, could only manage muffled grunts: "Mmm, mmm!" The two men trembled, sweating profusely. One of them steeled himself, opened the door, and rushed out to find Liu Cheng's father.
But as soon as he stepped outside, he ran into Gu Yue, who was frantically leading Gu Ting's second uncle toward them. Gu Yue's eyes widened as she caught sight of the figure at the door and exclaimed, "It's Gu Ting!"
Second Uncle Gu immediately turned pale with rage. He shot a glare at Liu Cheng's father, who was accompanying them, and hurried over.

When Qiao An woke up again, she was greeted by the familiar smell of disinfectant.
Xu Hui sat beside her, her eyes red, gazing at her with heartache. The moment she saw Qiao An awake, she threw herself by her side and wailed, "Oh, my dear An An, you've suffered so much!"
Qiao Yi was also by Xu Hui's side. Though not as affectionate, his eyes were red as well. Clenching his teeth, he said, "Don't be afraid, An An. Grandpa Gu will seek justice for you."
Qiao An blinked, the grogginess fading away. She recalled what she had sensed earlier and hurriedly asked, "What about Gu Ting? Is he alright?"
Qiao Yi paused, his expression somewhat strange. "He is fine."
"Did something happen?" Qiao An asked hesitantly.
Xu Hui wiped her tears, sniffled, and said, "He's physically fine. It's just that he's no longer simple-minded."
"What do you mean?" Qiao An's suspicions were confirmed, and she felt a mix of emotions. On one hand, she wondered why Gu Ting had regained his senses without the female lead's intervention. On the other hand, she was glad that this incident had triggered his awakening. While unconscious, she had sensed Gu Ting's intense concern and care. Could it be that she was the key to unlocking his true self this time?
Qiao Yi sighed. "After we rescued you two the day before yesterday, "
Qiao An interrupted him, "I've been asleep for two days?!"
"Yes," Qiao Yi replied gently, stroking his daughter's hair. "The drug dosage was quite heavy. When we arrived, the young master had already passed out, but he woke up a few hours later. After waking, he was different from before. The old master noticed and immediately called for a doctor, only to find that he had returned to normal. In fact, his IQ test scored 200."
"But his entire demeanor has changed," Qiao Yi said with a complicated look in his eyes. Qiao An had her suspicions but wasn't certain, so she could only watch him.
However, Qiao Yi didn't elaborate further and simply said, "You'll understand when the time comes."
"What do you mean?" Qiao An asked plaintively once more.
Qiao Yi replied, "The young master said to inform him when you wake up."
For some reason, upon hearing this, Qiao An suddenly grew tense.
Before Qiao An could fully adjust her mindset, in less than half an hour, Gu Ting appeared before her, completely different from his previous aura.
His handsome features had hardened considerably, dressed in a sharp suit with deep, intense eyes, he seemed much taller than the Gu Ting she remembered.
If not for their identical appearances, it would have been difficult to believe they were the same person.
Qiao An’s heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable unease washed over her.
Xu Hui and Qiao Yi exchanged glances, feeling they should give the two some space, and quietly stepped out.
Gu Ting took two steps forward, the sound of his leather shoes hitting the floor cold and sharp. Qiao An couldn’t help but secretly grip the bedsheet beneath her, biting her inner lip as she anxiously waited for him to speak.
It was different.
The feeling was still different.
Although this Gu Ting was even more handsome, his powerful presence made Qiao An feel utterly weak in front of him.
As Gu Ting drew closer to Qiao An, his expression gradually softened, regaining about half of his former self. He curved his eyebrows slightly, his large hand reaching over to gently brush aside the stray hairs on Qiao An’s forehead, whispering softly, "An An."
Qiao An’s heart trembled, her eyes blinking unnaturally a few times. She still couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Gu Ting called out again, "An An!"
His voice was much deeper than before, as if something was tingling and itching near her ear. Her scalp prickled, and she quickly responded, "Wh-what is it?"
Gu Ting smiled. "I haven’t changed."
He reached out and took Qiao An’s small hand, which was hidden under the blanket, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I’m still me. Don’t worry, I’ll never let you get hurt again."
Although he had suddenly regained his senses, he hadn’t forgotten the past.
Gu Ze bullying the foolish version of himself, and her taking care of that foolish self, none of it was forgotten.
Before coming, Gu Ze had been kneeling before their parents' memorial tablets, crying his eyes out, clutching his buttocks, wanting to sit but not daring to.
But facing Qiao An, he didn’t know what to do.
Hearing his voice, Qiao An felt a bit strange and unsure how to react. She nodded weakly and said, "Then do you have anything else?"
Gu Ting took a deep breath, wanting to say something.
But seeing the innocence in Qiao An’s eyes, his resolve faltered. He had almost forgotten, she wasn’t yet an adult. Suppressing the words in his throat, he shook his head with a smile and tucked the blanket around her. "It’s nothing."
He changed the subject. "What kind of outcome do you want for Liu Cheng?"
Qiao An’s eyes lit up. "Anything?"
"Right." Gu Ting nodded seriously.
That moment, just like the old Gu Ting, made Qiao An feel a bit more at ease. Remembering Liu Cheng, that disgusting creature, she gritted her teeth and said, "Let the heavens grow cold and the Wang family fall!"
Gu Ting: "Hmm?"
"Ahem I mean bankrupt!"
"Alright." Gu Ting smiled and accepted the request.

For the next two full years, Qiao An rarely saw Gu Ting.
Of course, it wasn't entirely absent, he would see her off during her final exams, occasionally ask her to bring him meals when she was home, and during the college entrance exams, he even made time to accompany her.
Just as Qiao An thought he was raising her like a child, she realized he had become busy again.
After the college entrance exams, Qiao An initially wanted to choose a prestigious major to take down the Liu family, but Gu Ting stopped her. After careful consideration, she opted for a minor language instead. When she started university, he again made time to see her off, arranged with the school to find her an off-campus apartment, and hired a nanny to take care of her.
A perfect twenty-four-filial 'dad.'
But he truly appeared very little.
If it weren't for the system disappearing after Gu Ting returned to normal, Qiao An would have been heartbroken watching the task points slip away.
After the incident, Liu Cheng was also severely injured. It was said he stayed in the hospital for a long time, and his voice was damaged, leaving him with a hoarse, unpleasant tone.
The Liu family harbored intense hatred toward the Gu family, suppressing them in every possible way. Second Uncle Gu was so pressured that he came back crying every few days. With Gu Lao having only this one son left and no other pressures, he cried quite freely.
Gu Lao had no choice but to step back into the fray to stabilize the situation, giving Gu Ting the chance to grow.
Fortunately, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, and the Gu family was far from dead.
Even as an outsider unaware of the details, Qiao An could tell from the occasional rumors and tidbits revealed by Qiao Yi that the Liu family's suppression of the Gu family went from effortless at the start to gradually struggling, and eventually, they came to apologize with Liu Cheng in tow.
As for the engagement between Liu Cheng and Gu Yue, it was dissolved right after the incident. Now, Gu Yue was already preparing for her wedding with her boyfriend.

During summer vacation, Qiao An returned to the Gu family with her luggage. The next day, a printed newspaper was placed in front of her. The headline on the finance news read: ["In Two Years, the Liu Family Goes from Prosperity to Bankruptcy"].
Just as Qiao An had almost forgotten about this person, he went bankrupt?
Her eyes still not fully open, she stared at the newspaper in shock, her drowsiness vanishing instantly. She murmured to herself, "They're bankrupt already?"
They didn't even last two years?
The villain is truly something!
Qiao Yi silently stepped back. Qiao An, like a ghost, drifted to the dining table, where a meal was promptly served. Thinking it was Xu Hui, she almost called out "Mom," but when she looked up, it was Gu Ting.
Two years of trials had sharpened his features, making him appear even more imposing. Anyone who saw him now would recognize him as a person of authority.
Qiao An's breath hitched. Watching him place chopsticks in front of her with a smile at the corner of his lips, she awkwardly turned her face away and whispered, "Good morning."
"Morning." Gu Ting naturally sat beside her. "An An."
Qiao An's face flushed bright red. Flustered, she tried to put the newspaper down, but someone took it from her. She lowered her head to eat breakfast while Gu Ting beside her ate with the same leisurely pace.
After finishing the meal, while Qiao An was wiping her mouth, she heard Gu Ting say, "The mission is complete. I can return to normal life now. An An, do you have any plans recently?"
Qiao An shook her head. "No."
Gu Ting smiled. "Perfect timing, then. I booked tickets to France. Shall we go together?"
"Tickets? Together?" Qiao An looked at him in confusion.
Gu Ting's smile remained unchanged. "I used your ID to book them. Didn't you get the notification?"
"No, I didn’t." Qiao An immediately took out her phone and checked her messages. There was nothing. Upon closer inspection, she found it had been intercepted as spam. The tickets had been booked days ago, a flight to Paris, France, departing tomorrow morning. She had once mentioned to the "old Gu Ting" that she wanted to visit this city of romance.
Seeing this, Qiao An felt reassured. She looked at Gu Ting again and nodded firmly. "Okay!"
After saying this, she curved her lips into a smile.
He was still the same Gu Ting.
Initially, Grandpa Gu had only hoped for someone willing to take care of his grandson. Later, when his grandson recovered, he couldn’t simply turn his back on the one who had helped. So, as before, things were allowed to develop naturally.
During their trip to Paris, the two officially became a couple. The two years of delay seemed to vanish overnight, and they quickly returned to the intimate atmosphere they once shared.
It was then that Qiao An suddenly realized something.
Gu Ting had a habit of focusing intensely on one thing. She had waited for him for two years. But what if, during those two years, she had fallen for someone else? Would the story have unfolded the same way as in the original plot?
The thought passed as quickly as it came.
The mission was ultimately completed successfully. Looking back on her life, Qiao An was startled to discover that not only had Gu Ting not turned dark, but the Gu family also remained intact, with almost no entanglement with the original female lead.
By the time she and Gu Ting were surrounded by children and grandchildren, the female lead had also achieved her own happiness, yet strangely, their paths still barely crossed.